Software Engineering Degree in Fontana, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Software Engineering degree analysis for Fontana, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$93K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$136K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.2 yrs
in Fontana
Cost of Living
106
index (100 = avg)
Software Engineering in Fontana, CA Overview
Fontana, California (pop. 214,547) has 18 colleges offering Software Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 106 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,423/month. Software Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Software Design and Testing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Fontana is approximately $93,280.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$11,333/yr
Private Tuition
$38,840/yr
Room & Board
$18,944/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,336/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Software Engineering Salary in Fontana (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fontana's cost of living index of 106 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Software Engineering salary: $88,000 starting, $128,000 mid-career, $160,000 senior level.Fontana adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Software Engineering ROI Calculator for Fontana
Estimate your return on investment for a Software Engineering degree using local Fontana tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,333 | Private avg: $38,840
Fontana avg aid: $11,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$121,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$56,180
vs HS diploma in Fontana
ROI Payback Period
2.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fontana
$1,129,692
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,250,800) minus total education cost ($121,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Software Engineering in Fontana
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fontana for Software Engineering
California Baptist University Fontana
private
$38,840/yr
$155,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chaffey College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Software Engineering in Fontana
Fontana offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Software Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fontana Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Software Engineering Job Titles
Software Engineering in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$124K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$123K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$114K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$100K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$104K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$99K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$102K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$116K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Fontana
Prompt Engineering
$53K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$101K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$90K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Data Science
$87K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$90K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$85K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Software Engineering Degree in Fontana — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Software Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Fontana.